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NEWS
KANSAN.COM
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www.meadowbrookapartments.net
World Cup success means big business
DEREK SKILLETT
@derek_skillett
The United States' recent victory in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final has led to an increase in business for Lawrence's soccer bars, particularly Red Lyon Tavern, at 944 Massachusetts St., and Dempsey's Burger Pub, at 623 Vermont St.
"It's been a slow increase in business. We didn't know what to expect for the Women's World Cup," said Bryan Love II, the manager of Red Lyon Tavern. "Right on Sunday for the final match, it was at capacity here 10 minutes after we opened. We had a group of 50 people standing outside waiting before we could even open the doors."
That World Cup Final scene was very similar at Dempsey's Burger Pub, just a few minutes away from Red Lyon.
"It's always busy. We had people in here watching all the matches," said Derek Jennes, the bar manager at Dempsey's. "On Sunday, it was packed. It usually is for a big soccer match."
Although the Women's World Cup is over, Red Lyon and Dempsey's will attempt to maintain a strong audience for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which began July 7 and will last through July 26.
"I think it's going to take people a little bit of time to kind of get back into it," Love said. "That World Cup takes a lot out of people. It's really exciting; people are just drinking and yelling and cheering. As soon as people start to get back to work and get into their daily routines, then we'll get to see more and more people come out for the Gold Cup." Jennes said he expects the same large crowds to show up to Dempsey's for the Gold Cup games.
"We always get busy during soccer games. It's just a bunch of fun," said Jennes. "I think people like to come here because we have a lot of TVs where everyone can see the games."
Love encouraged people to watch soccer matches in bars, mainly because of the atmosphere during games.
"It's wild. If there's a word to describe it, it's wild." Love said. "About every table is taken, every seat at the bar is taken, we're three-deep with people standing up. It's definitely electric."
Love said he wasn't really into soccer before he started working at Red Lyon.
"It's infectious," he said. "You come in and you get into it."
Robert Renteria, who took in the U.S. Men's National Team's 1-0 victory over Haiti in Friday's Gold Cup match at Red Lyon, explained why he prefers to watch soccer matches in bars.
"I like the camaraderie. Watching [matches] at home, there isn't as much excitement and atmosphere as there is at bars," said Renteria, who moved to Lawrence from California in February.
Red Lyon may offer drink specials to draw in more fans during the opening few Gold Cup matches.
"We usually do specials on Budweiser and Bud Light," Love said. "We're known about town for Guinness, so we don't really do a lot of specials on Guinness because people come in here for that."
Jennes said he doesn't think Dempsey's will offer many specials to bring customers in for the opening Gold Cup matches but will reevaluate as the tournament goes on.
"We just kinda feel it out,"Jennes said.
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